Bt Research 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 95-102 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/bt 95 Research Insight Open Access Bt Application Strategies to Minimize Environmental Impact FuminGao 1, JiongFu2 1 Tropical Microbial Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China 2 Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: jiong.fu@hitar.org Bt Research, 2025, Vol.16, No.3 doi: 10.5376/bt.2025.16.0012 Received: 28 Mar., 2025 Accepted: 18 May, 2025 Published: 30 May, 2025 Copyright © 2025 Gao and Fu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Gao F.M., and Fu J., 2025, Bt application strategies to minimize environmental impact, Bt Research, 16(3): 95-102 (doi: 10.5376/bt.2025.16.0012) Abstract This review mainly discusses the usage methods of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), with a focus on how to reduce its impact on the environment. The emergence of Bt technology, especially the application of Bt genetically modified crops, has significantly reduced the usage of chemical pesticides. In this way, not only is the damage to the ecosystem reduced, but also the risk to human health is lowered. The article summarizes the basic modes of action of Bt toxins and several common application methods, such as foliar spraying, genetically modified crops and seed treatment. It also introduces the types of pests it can control and the limitations encountered during use. Bt has also played a significant role in integrated pest management. Research has found that Bt not only effectively kills pests but also further enhances the sustainability of agriculture through high-quality seeds and reasonable resistance management. In the future, if the application mode of Bt can be optimized and resistance management can be done well, it will be possible to better promote the development of green agriculture. This article aims to summarize the application experience of Bt, analyze its advantages and disadvantages, and provide references for future sustainable agriculture. Keywords Bt toxin; Environmental impact; Genetically modified crops; Pest management; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a common biological agent used to control agricultural pests. It is effective, highly targeted and relatively safe for humans and non-target organisms, so it is often regarded as an important alternative to chemical pesticides. Since the end of the 20th century, Bt has not only been used in fields in the form of sprays and granules, but also introduced into major crops such as cotton and corn through genetic engineering, thus forming Bt crops. These practices have accelerated the sustainable development of global agriculture (Glaser and Matten, 2003). The use of Bt crops and Bt formulations reduces chemical pesticides, lowers environmental toxicity, and also decreases health risks. For example, among small-scale farmers in India, Bt cotton significantly reduces the Environmental Impact Index (EIQ), has less negative effects than ordinary cotton, and the efficiency of high-quality Bt seeds is higher. In the United States, large-scale cultivation of Bt corn not only increased the yield but also reduced the frequency and dosage of pesticide use. However, the promotion of Bt technology has also encountered problems, such as pest resistance, ecological security and social acceptance (Glaser and Matten, 2003). In sustainable pest management, how to better apply Bt to reduce environmental impact is currently the focus of agricultural management. The scientific and reasonable use can slow down the resistance of pests, reduce ecological risks and promote the transformation of agriculture towards a green direction. The purpose of this review is to sort out and evaluate the latest research on the environmental impact of Bt applications. The focus is on the application of Bt crops and Bt preparations, their environmental effects and risks, as well as measures for sustainable management. By analyzing relevant literature, it is hoped to provide references for the green application and policy-making of Bt technology in the future. 2 Mechanism of Action and Scope of Use 2.1 How Bt toxins work against insect pests Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) can produce three main insecticidal proteins: Cry, Vip and Cyt. All of them will act on
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